Patent GB-1356003-A (GB)
Title: Continuous casting machine starting device
IPC: B22D11/08
Filed: 1971-08-17
Abstract: 1356003 Continuous casting PENNSYLVANIA ENG CORP 17 Aug 1971 [2 Sept 1970] 38537/71 Heading B3F From a storage structure 37, Fig. 2, a flexible starter bar 36 (of links 41 connected pivotally by pins 42) is advanced by the reversely driven rolls 26-29 of a withdrawal-straightener unit 25 to a mould (17) before casting is started; when withdrawn by the same rolls on starting, the bar is passed, tail first, back up a guide section 38 (which allows a head end 50 of the bar and the cast strand 31 to pass straight through on to a cut-off table) into the structure 37 until the tail link 81, Fig. 7 (which shows a top portion of Fig. 2 enlarged and laterally inverted) is coupled by upstanding fingers 85, 86, Figs. 7, 10, on a latch arm 83 pivoted at 84 on a linkage 77-79 of a piston 76, Fig. 2, of an (hydraulic) actuator 75; this actuator is then operated for final retraction of the bar 36 and, when starting to cast again, is reversely operated to uncouple the latch fingers 85, 86 and reintroduce the bar to the unit 25 for advancement to the mould. The latch 83 is operated, for engaging the bar, (by a cam portion 96, 97 of a track 94, 95, Fig. 10, on which rollers 90, 91 of the latch are supported) when the latch-bearing link 79 of the actuator 75 is pushed back by the tail link 81 of the returning bar 36 to the position shown in Fig. 7. The latch fingers 85, 86 flank the (leading) tail-end link 81 of the bar in the latched position as shown, being permitted to ride up the track portions 96 on to the tracks 94, 95, to that position, by the pivoting of a spring- loaded track plate 98. For unlatching, the latch 83 drops to the ghost line position, off the track end 102. As indicated in Fig. 10, the bar (36) is supported in the structure (37) by flanges 46-49 of tracks 44, 45 by way of rollers 43 on the bar link-joining pins 42. The bar is similarly supported and guided in an apron (20) of staggered rollers which curves down from the waterjacketed, reciprocated mould (17) to the roller unit 25. Curved tracks 66, 67, Fig. 3, in the guide section 38, direct the main portion of the bar up into the storage structure 37 and so a pin 61 on a link 60 is lifted out of a hook 59 of the link 55 which is pivoted on the bar head 52, Fig. 3, bearing a bolt 53. The detached head end 50, comprising the items 55, 52, 53, and the cast strand 31 pass straight through for the latter to be cut by torch. The end 50 is replaced on the bar when the latter is unlatched from the actuator 75 for advancement. A guide cone, temporarily slipped over the bolt 53 for advancement of the bar through the unit 25 and roller apron (20), is removed just before the head 52 enters the mould (17). The operations of the arrangement are coordinated by limit switches 103, 105, Fig. 7, with rocker arms operated by a cam 109 on a guide 79 of the piston linkage between the actuator 75 and the bar link 81. The rollers 26-29 of the withdrawal-straightener unit 25 are driven by hydraulic motors (32-35) and these and the rollers may be raised or lowered to engage or disengage the strand 31 or bar 36. Several casting machines may be operated side-by-side, being supplied from a bottom gate valve of a ladle (12) on a car running on a track (11).